"I knew something is going on with her. Now, what should I do? This is huge!" Ahmad said to himself.

He was thinking of a way to tell Osman about what he had witnessed while he was following the servant. The servant changed his clothes and rushed out of the palace. Following the servant in the busy streets of Parseh, he entered a house located in the center of the city and a very busy district.

He did not know what he was doing, and following that person was the only thing he could think of for now.

After a few minutes, another guy came out of the house and disappeared into the crowds. Asking from neighbors he understood that was the servant's house. He decided to go back to the palace and inform Osman about what had happened.

***

"Why are you so serious? What is the rush?" Samir asked while he was running behind Ahmad. They were almost running to meet Osman in his office.

"Just hurry up, you will know."

They knocked and went inside.

"Hi, I was about to leave for the evening prayer. Let's go!"

"I need to talk to you." Ahmad said looking serious.

"Let's have our prayers first then we can talk. Come on we'll be late. People are waiting." Osman said.

Amad shook his head and followed Osman out of the office.

Samir whispered "What is going on?" he was curious to know what is it that had made Ahmad be so serious and not his usual self.

"You will know soon." Ahmad said, Samir shrugged, and they joined the people who were getting ready for the prayer.

After the prayer, Osman was busy talking with one of the generals when Ahmad approached and signaled him that he needs to talk to him.

Osman excused himself and walked toward Ahmad "What is it that you cannot wait any longer?"

"It's about the princess."

Osman blinked as if he did not realize what he is saying "What?"

"I witnessed something which concerns the princess."

"Which princess? What are you talking about?"

"I mean your wife, princess Arta. Let's go to your office and talk."

"What? What is going on? Is she alright?" Osman got concerned.

He was about to leave and rush to their chambers to see if she is alright when Ahmad grabbed his wrist and prevented him from going "she is alright. I just need to tell you something. Can we please go somewhere less crowded."

Samir also joined them "What is going on with you two? What are you arguing about?"

"Let's go to my office." Osman ignored Samir and they went back to his office.

Reaching his office, Osman closed the door "Now talk. What is going on? What is it to do with Arta?"

"Remember a few days ago you did not know why the princess was upset with you and I told you if you want me to investigate the issue?"

Osman laughed "Are you serious? Remember I told you not to do anything and that thing solved? I cannot believe you Ahmad you got me worried over nothing. Let's go now. Arta is waiting for me and I'm so hungry. You can join us for dinner." Osman was about to leave when Ahmad almost shouted "Wait, Osman, hear me out!"

"OK just hurry up!" Osman closed the door again and looked at him confusingly. What was wrong with Ahmad, he had never talked to him like this before.

"I've been following the princess since that day."

"You what???" Osman narrowed his eyes.

"Today she met a servant in the garden and gave him a letter."

"What? What letter?"

"I don't know. What was in the letter but I have an assumption."

Osman sat on the chair behind his desk. He could not believe him. Did his wife had an affair with a servant? That was the first thing coming into his mind.

Osman was silent, deep in his thoughts. He knew Ahmad was not lying. He and Samir were his most trusted persons.

Ahmad continued "I followed the guy. He immediately changed his clothes and left the palace. He went into a house, apparently his house. Then someone came out of the house and disappeared into the crowds. I didn't know what to do so I rushed back to inform you about this."

"You should have stopped that servant and got the letter from him."

"What if you have been mistaken, maybe the person you saw in the garden was not the princess." Samir talked for the first time.

"Oh Samir, I know what I saw." Ahmad said.

After a few seconds, Osman stood up. "Go and find that servant, bring him to me. Take as much as soldiers as you want. But don't let anyone know the reason."

Ahmad and Samir left the office. Osman sat behind his desk. Covered his face with his hands. He could not go and face Arta before he knew what was going on. He sent a guard to inform Arta not to wait for him, he ordered the guard to tell her that he will be busy with work.

It was dark outside when Ahmad and Samir came back with a man. He was tall and thin and it was obvious that he wasn't there at his own will. His clothes were dusty, and one of his sleeves has been ripped off. His lower lip was swollen and bruised.

"This is the servant."

Osman walked toward the man. "What is your name?"

The servant looked scared "My name is Kaveh, sir." He said with a shaky voice. He was looking scared.

"Do you know who am I?"

"Yes, prince Osman."

"Do you know why you are here?"

Kaveh looked at Samir and Ahmad then Osman "No I don't know."

"Well think harder." Osman roared.

"I ..I .. really don't know..."

"Let me help you a bit to remember." Osman stood in front of Kaveh and looked him in the eyes. "Tell me what was the content of the letter that the princess gave you today in the garden."

Kaveh's leg gave up and he knelt on the floor. After a few seconds of silence, Osman said "Talk or I swear to Allah that you will not see the daylight tomorrow."

"I..I .. I don't know."

"Don't test my patience, tell me what was the content of the letter." Osman shouted.

"I swear I don't know. I was just a messenger. I swear. I just delivered the letter."

"To whom? What was the letter about?"

"I don't know." Kaveh started to cry "Please I have two little children. Have mercy on me."

"Tell us what you know and I promise not to harm you."

"But if I tell you the truth, they will kill me!"

"Who will kill you?"

"General Abtin and his men."

"What?"

"Please don't kill me. I just delivered the letter to the princess and then waited for her answer. I never opened the letters. I don't know what was the content."

Osman could not believe him. He grabbed Kaveh by the collar of his shirt and forced him to stand up.

"Tell me what was these letters about." He shouted while shaking him vigorously.

"I don't know prince." Kaveh cried.

Osman tossed him on the ground and drew his sword. The blade almost hit his neck when Kaveh shouted "She gave information on the attack."

Osman halted "What attack?"

"North."

The sword fell out of his hand. Osman turned his back to them and steadied himself by leaning forward on the table. All the good memories with Arta flashed in front of his eyes. His beautiful wife, the love of his life. Why did she do this to him?

"Take him to the dungeons." Osman said with a sad low voice.

Samir and Ahmad both moved to take Kaveh to the dungeons. "Ahmad, you stay." Osman ordered.

Osman could not believe what he had heard. That was why she was so eager to be present at the meetings. What should he do now? What a funny destiny he had. He could not believe that all the love, kindness, and concerns that she had shown toward him were just an act to get information. But why did she betray him? He was heartbroken and angry.

After a few seconds, Osman said "Go and watch Arta and report to me immediately any suspicious movement."

***

It was almost midnight. Arta was laying on the bed trying to sleep but she had a bad feeling, she was nervous and also sad. It was strange that Osman had not yet come back. What has happened that he needed to work this late? There is no way that he could realize what she had done. She was constantly reassuring herself and trying to calm her nerves.

She felt the presence of someone in the room. She jumped and sat on the bed "Osman, is that you?"

No one answered, "Who is it?" She saw a shadow approaching her.

"Don't be afraid princess, it's me, Abtin!"

"Oh my God, you scared me to death. What are you here? Do you want to get both of us killed? Osman may come any minutes."

"Don't worry we still have time, but we must hurry."

"What do you mean? What is going on?"

"The messenger that you gave the letter to, Kaveh, he has been arrested."

Arta's leg gave away and she knelt on the floor, her whole world had fallen apart. So that's why Osman did not show up tonight.

"Come on, we don't have time, we have to leave."

"Leave where? This is my home here, my husband, my life. I cannot leave."

"Princess think rationally. Do you think your husband, the crown prince of Arabia will forgive you if Kaveh opens his mouth and tell him about the letters?"

Arta stood up, she was angry "It's all your fault Abtin."

"It does not matter whose fault it is now. We should hurry."

"I'm not going to escape like a coward and a traitor."

"Traitor to who? To your people or your enemy?" Abtin almost shouted.

"That enemy is now my husband." Arta said angrily.

"My child please come with me, we don't have time." Abtin said with a low kind voice.

Arta started to cry. She knew that Osman would not forgive her. She had betrayed him and his love. She covered her face with her hands for a few seconds.

"Princess we don't have time."

"Ok!" she said with a sad low voice. She quickly went to the dressing room and took her mother's necklace and followed Abtin to the balcony.

In the dark corner of the balcony, there was a rope hanging. "Can you do it?" Abtin asked.

"Yes, I can. You go first."

***

On the other side of the chamber's door, where Ahmad was guarding he could hear Arta and another guy's voice arguing. He did not waste any time and he ordered one of the palace guards to go and bring Osman.

When Osman arrived with a couple of guards it was a few minutes that Ahmad could not hear anything from inside the chamber. He told Osman that he had heard Arta was arguing with someone.

Osman rushed inside the chamber, but Arta was nowhere to be seen. He went to the balcony and from up there he recognized Arta from behind running toward the east palace following a man.

Witnessing that scene made his blood boil in his vein. He ran out of the chamber and ordered Ahmad and other soldiers to follow him.

Osman was running as if his life depends on it. He saw Arta and Abtin entering the east palace. He entered the palace and saw the train of Arta's dress disappearing in the stairs that go down.

He shouted with all his power "Arta!"